Dipak Desai, a gastroenterologist who has surrendered his medical license after hepatitis C outbreaks at his clinics, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Las Vegas on conspiracy and healthcare fraud charges, according to a Las Vegas Review Journal report.
Mr. Desai and Tonya Rushing, COO of Mr. Desai’s Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, have been charged with one count of conspiracy, 25 counts of healthcare fraud and a forfeiture count seeking to seize $8.1 million. The indictment alleges Mr. Desai and Ms. Rushing organized a scheme from Jan. 2005 to Feb. 2008 where they inflated the length of medical procedures and overbilled insurance companies for anesthesia.
Nurses at two of Desai’s clinics — Endoscopy of Southern Nevada and Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center — were instructed to falsify times for endoscopies and colonoscopies, according to the indictment. Nurse anesthetists allegedly saw between 60 and 80 patients per day and were allegedly required to list 31 minutes of anesthesia time for each.
The indictment arrived while medical officials are determining whether Mr. Desai is mentally competent to stand trial. He is currently under evaluation at a state mental hospital.
Read the Las Vegas Review Journal report on Dipak Desai and Tonya Rushing.
Related Articles on Physicians and Fraud:
North Carolina Pain Management Physician Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud
Texas Oral Surgeon Acquitted in Medicaid Fraud Case
10 Fraud and Kickback Cases Involving Physicians
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.